All about Samsung Galaxy S4

[Germanic]

This is out now in other regions, and it fixed an issue with stability i've been having (constant random resets).

How can you update to the latest Samsung firmware?

 

[Apex]

How can you update to the latest Samsung firmware?

Go to Settings -> More -> System Update

You can update your Samsung Software, Firmware, PRL, Profile, etc from there.

 

[Germanic]

Go to Settings -> More -> System Update

You can update your Samsung Software, Firmware, PRL, Profile, etc from there.

I did this:

Settings -> More -> About device -> Software update -> Update.

It says "The latest updates have already been installed".

Does that mean I have the latest Samsung firmware update?

 

[GTRagnarok]

Depending on your model, it's probably faster to just install a ROM with the new update implemented. I have the AT&T model and using Nottach's Mint Jelly ROM. I can confirm it fixes the "purple smearing" issue. It also gave me back a whopping 70MB of internal storage...woo.

 

[foghorn67]

Btw, the S4 -- with no battery optimization -- has the equivalent stock battery life of the LTE GNex + extra battery.

After having both, this isn't true.

 

[Dunkman04]

Screen on my S4 just "rewarded" me with a giant vertical glowing lime green line going the whole length of the screen while I was just reading an article. I've had it 10 days. I hope it's just an isolated case.

 

[Germanic]

Depending on your model, it's probably faster to just install a ROM with the new update implemented. I have the AT&T model and using Nottach's Mint Jelly ROM. I can confirm it fixes the "purple smearing" issue. It also gave me back a whopping 70MB of internal storage...woo.

I don't know how to install a ROM and also wouldn't installing a ROM make the warranty void?

 

[GTRagnarok]

I don't know how to install a ROM and also wouldn't installing a ROM make the warranty void?

Technically yes, but you can revert back and remove traces of it. Which version/carrier do you have?

 

[Gorgenapper]

Bad link. Or it's not mobile friendly.
I cant say I've noticed this. I usually take a while to sit down and and pick up subtleties. So if it's there, it's not hugely obvious.
White balance seems very neutral.
Also, Adobe gave Samsung an award this week for displaying 98% of the Adobe color gamut.

I apologize, add a .com to there (www.nationalgeographic.com/125). The other colors are okay, in my opinion, it's just that yellow gets that greenish tint, which is not noticeable per se but becomes a little more apparent when compared with an LCD screen. In the end, I suppose it's not really that bad...

Just compared my wife's One vs my S4 on this picture:

They're pretty similar with the S4 set on standard (whites on both phones are very cool and lean towards purple). On professional photo and movie, the S4's color temperature is lower, so comparatively, it leans more towards green.

Edit: Dynamic is as purple as you can get the S4 set to, and even then, it's not quite as cold as the One. Here it is (sorry for the bad picture):

Thanks for doing the comparison. At least the S4 gives you user-selectable modes, the NA version of the S3 was set to garish and left like that.

 

[bgstcola]

Screen on my S4 just "rewarded" me with a giant vertical glowing lime green line going the whole length of the screen while I was just reading an article. I've had it 10 days. I hope it's just an isolated case.

Have you seen this thread?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2287882

The S4 screen seems to break for no reason.

 

[Apex]

Thanks for doing the comparison. At least the S4 gives you user-selectable modes, the NA version of the S3 was set to garish and left like that.

Yeah, the 4 modes vary quite substantially. I personally leave mine on professional photo, as movie is a bit too warm for me (even though it's technically more correct). Good to have choices though.

From what I understand, the HTC One has a white balance around the 8000k mark, which is why it leans so far purple.

 

[Red Storm]

I personally think people who see blues and purples have spent too much time reading benchmarks and specs. Or they have such super human sight that they can't help but spot nothing but flaws when looking at today's displays. I guess I'm glad I don't have that problem. The S4 has a nice display, as does the HTC One and the iPhone 5.

 

[Oyeve]

I personally think people who see blues and purples have spent too much time reading benchmarks and specs. Or they have such super human sight that they can't help but spot nothing but flaws when looking at today's displays. I guess I'm glad I don't have that problem. The S4 has a nice display, as does the HTC One and the iPhone 5.

Same here. I only see the flaws when someone points it out on the forums then I overlook them and enjoy the device.

 

[rcpratt]

Have you seen this thread?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2287882

The S4 screen seems to break for no reason.

Wow, that has me terrified. Hope it's not as easy as it sounds...

 

[Germanic]

Wow, that has me terrified. Hope it's not as easy as it sounds...

Lol trust me, it's trivial. I've never heard of the SGS4's screen breaking. It's actually one of the most durable smartphones.

 

[bgstcola]

Lol trust me, it's trivial. I've never heard of the SGS4's screen breaking. It's actually one of the most durable smartphones.

Then read the thread. There're 30+ ppl reporting that they have broken screens but didn't drop the phone.

I the T-Mobile subforum they have a poll and 5 out of 50 have broken screens without dropping the phone. Keep in mind that a lot of these guys use cases to protect the phones.

I know there're millions of phones sold so it is hard to tell if this is a real problem or not but I have never seen that many ppl post about broken screens without dropping the phone.

 

[gorcorps]

Then read the thread. There're 30+ ppl reporting that they have broken screens but didn't drop the phone.

I the T-Mobile subforum they have a poll and 5 out of 50 have broken screens without dropping the phone. Keep in mind that a lot of these guys use cases to protect the phones.

I know there're millions of phones sold so it is hard to tell if this is a real problem or not but I have never seen that many ppl post about broken screens without dropping the phone.

People have claimed that about the iphone 4 and above too. Not that there isn't a potential issue, but it's not like this is the first phone people have whined about the screen breaking with little to no known impact. 30+ people is nothing compared to how many people claimed their iphones broke on their own. I truly believe most of them are full of it though, and they know exactly what they did.

 

[Oyeve]

Then read the thread. There're 30+ ppl reporting that they have broken screens but didn't drop the phone.

I the T-Mobile subforum they have a poll and 5 out of 50 have broken screens without dropping the phone. Keep in mind that a lot of these guys use cases to protect the phones.

I know there're millions of phones sold so it is hard to tell if this is a real problem or not but I have never seen that many ppl post about broken screens without dropping the phone.

Every new major phone gets the dreaded "OMG! My screen broke for no reason! I swear i didnt drop it!" routine. I bet 9/10 time the user either dropped it or banged it in the pocket. I have had pretty much every major device and I treat my stuff like its made of titanium and I have never ever broke a device. The screens may get scratched up but never broken. An I dont use cases or screen protctors.

 

[foghorn67]

Screen on my S4 just "rewarded" me with a giant vertical glowing lime green line going the whole length of the screen while I was just reading an article. I've had it 10 days. I hope it's just an isolated case.

keep us updated.

 

[rcpratt]

Every new major phone gets the dreaded "OMG! My screen broke for no reason! I swear i didnt drop it!" routine. I bet 9/10 time the user either dropped it or banged it in the pocket. I have had pretty much every major device and I treat my stuff like its made of titanium and I have never ever broke a device. The screens may get scratched up but never broken. An I dont use cases or screen protctors.

I am admittedly somewhat uneducated on smartphone-screen-breaking trends, but isn't this somewhat different since it's the actual AMOLED breaking while the screen is still fully intact? Has that been an issue with other phones previously?

 

[richierich1212]

There's six of us at my work with S4s, (3 previously had iPhone 4/5, two of us had upgraded from a previous android device, and the last coworker finally got a smart phone for the first time, lol). I'll let you all know if anyone breaks their screen.

 

[bradly1101]

I have an S3 but I wouldn't worry if I had an S4. As far as I can tell this is just one report, and we don't really know all the other ways that phone may have been treated.

 

[Oyeve]

I am admittedly somewhat uneducated on smartphone-screen-breaking trends, but isn't this somewhat different since it's the actual AMOLED breaking while the screen is still fully intact? Has that been an issue with other phones previously?

I would guess the amoled screen is not nearly as forgiving as the gorilla glass so bending the phone would break the amoled long before the top screen. I bet most of those are the case.

 

[Germanic]

Then read the thread. There're 30+ ppl reporting that they have broken screens but didn't drop the phone.

I the T-Mobile subforum they have a poll and 5 out of 50 have broken screens without dropping the phone. Keep in mind that a lot of these guys use cases to protect the phones.

I know there're millions of phones sold so it is hard to tell if this is a real problem or not but I have never seen that many ppl post about broken screens without dropping the phone.

30 out of what? Like hundreds? You also have people who talk bs all the time.

What about the physical defects (chips and scuffs) of the iPhone 5?

 

[Dulanic]

I have a 8 month old son who thinks my S4 is a frisbee. I have yet to have any damage and he's thrown it off the couch onto the hardwood floor at least 5 times.